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WIRE FENCE MACHINE. No. 408,164. Patented July 30, 1889.

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' J. DECKER.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE. No.*408,164. Patented July 30, 1889* UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

I JOHN DECKER, OF COOKPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO L. D. MUMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,164, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed April 22, 1889. Serial No. 309,099. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cookport, in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ire-Fence Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of this machine as in use. Fig- 2 is a detail in perspective (on opposite sides of Fig. 1) of the post carrying the twisting mechanism; Fig. 3, detail in perspective of the picket-spacer; Fig. 4-, detail of the separated parts of one of the twisters; Fig. 5, detail of the tension and modification of the cam-binder. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the twister ready for use. Fig. 7 is a detail, enlarged, of the tension device.

This invention belongs to that class of devices known as portable wire-fence-twisting machines and the novelty consists in the construction of the several parts and in their combination with each other and in the device as a whole, all as will now be more fully described, as well as pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A denotes a twister-fra1ne which carries the twisting mechanism. This mechanism consists of the twisters B, each having pinions on its outer part b, the sprocket-wheel O, and sprocket-chain D pass ing over said wheel and pinions. The wheel C is journaled in the outer end of the arm a, which arm is slotted and movably attached by a thumb-screw passing through said slot 40 into the post A, and a pin, if desired, so that the tension of the chain can be adjusted at will. The sprocket'wheel is turned by means of the crank-arm c, attached to its shaft.

Each of the twisters, of which there may be as many as are desired on the post, is made of the outer part b, the holder 6 and the inner cylinder D The holder is attached near one edge of the post by means of its arm b, which is bolted or screwed to the post, its annular part projecting far enough beyond the edge of the post to allow free movement of the parts that-do the twisting. The cylindrical part b is placed over the horizontally and rearwardly projecting end of the part I), being secured thereto by the tenons b in its end opposite the flange Z), havingpinions upon it. These tenons fit into the sockets b in the end of the cylinder D The fence-wires pass from the tensions E, secured to the board F, (which is clamped, as will be hereinafter described, to the edge of fence-post G,) into the flaring mouth within the pinions of part b of the twister, and thence through the holes 12 or b in the flange at the rear, according as narrow or wider pickets are to be used in making the fence, and thence extend to the pickets. The detail of operating the twister and of binding the wires about the pickets is that common to this class of devices.

The board F is clamped to the fence-post G by means of the iron bar I and oanmlever K. The hooked end i of said bar engages on the edge of the post, on the opposite side of which the board is placed. The bar thence passes through the slot f in said board. In the projecting end are curved slots 1'', in which pins 2' are placed. By putting the end of the cam-lever between one of the pins and the face of the board and then pulling the handle of the cam forward the board can be clamped rigidly against the post. Of course, it will be understood that there are to be two or more of said clamping devices for each board.

Instead of having the lever detachable, it may be made and eccentrically pivoted, as shown in Fig. 5; but the operation is the same and the construction of parts is mechanically equivalent to the detachable lever.

Each tension device, of which there may be as many as desired, consists of the plate L, attached to the forward face of the board F by screws or otherwise. Through this plate, as well as the board behind it, are holes Z. Just below these are the angular or curved parts Z, in grooves in which the wires are laid. Over this part is placed the cover Z having flange l at its lower end and wire holes Z in the same registering with the grooves in the face of Z. The cover is clamped over the curved part Z by means of the screwrod Z which passes up through it from the board, and has on it a nut 1, with or without a hand-lever. Thus any desired pressure or tension can be brought upon the wires.

In order that the picket may be mechanically held in proper position while the wires are being twisted around it, there is placed at the lower end of the post the supporting-arm M. This arm is detachably secured by its rod m and set-screw m to the end of the weighted lever m which is pivoted to said twister-frame A. Thus the end of the picket can be easily placed on said arm, and so held in proper line with the pickets on which already the wires have been twisted. At the upper end of the twister-frame is an arm 0, preferably a spring, attached at its end to the post and extending out in line with the pickets, so as to come into properadjustment with the arm M below, and thus adapted to rest upon the top of the last picket and hold it steady while being worked into the fenc- In Fig. 3 is shown thepicket-spacing device, which consists of the pieces N and N, which slide on each other by means of the bolt 02 and slots 01, the bolt being fixed to the part N and moving in the slot in N. The bolt can be held in the slot by a nut. By tightening the nut on the bolt the bolt can be fixed at any desired point in the slot in the part N; but the part N is then left free to be moved by the lever I. The part N has a bent end 11 by means of which it is secured to the twister-frame A, while the part N has a hooked end of to catch upon the side of one of the pickets, and a hooked end of to en gage the cam-lever P, which is pivotally movable on the bolt that secures the two parts N and N together, as above stated. By this construction it will be noticed that the camlever P not only moves the parts, but also constitutes the means by which they are locked in any desired position. The operation of this device is to cause the cam-lever to press against the bend n of part N, and thus draw the hooked end it forward and upon the side of the picket. By this means the picket can be spaced apartregularly and firmly held while the Wire is being twisted about them. This result is readily attained, because the length of these parts which constitute the spacing device having been fixed by means of the bolt n and its nut, as above explained, the hooked ends n will be ready to engage upon apicket which has been already embraced between the wires and keep the twisterframe vertically parallel with the pickets, about which the wires have already been wound.

It will be obvious that there are many ways by which the rod 'or bar I can be attached to or upon the post, differing only in a mechanical manner from what I have now described. The aim is merely to provide a simple and ready way for clamping the tension to each fence-post successively.

It will be noted that the parts of the twister can be easily fitted together, and that the twister is readily attached to the movable post; that there is no trouble about holding the picket while being wired; that each new picket is readily and easily brought into proper line with those which have been worked into the fencing; that the tension is easily and simply regulated; that the twister is adapted for wide or narrow pickets, and that the machine is very simple in structure and easily operated and not liable to get out of order.

Having now described my invention, What I claim is- 1. In a wire-fence machine, a twister composed of a holder W, a part b, fitting into the same and havingpinions in its flanged end and tenons at the other, and a cylinder b slotted at b and fitting over the tenoned end of part Z) and having holes for the wires to pass through, substantially as described.

2. In a wire-fence machine, and combined with the twister-frame and twisting mechanism, the supporting-arm M and weighted lever m substantially as described.

3. In a wire-fence machine, the combination of the arm M and lever m to which said arm is attached, with the twister-frame A and twisting mechanism secured thereto, and the arm 0 at the top of the post, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with the board carrying the tension devices, a hooked arm passing through said board and a cam-lever operating on said arm and against the board, whereby the board can be readily clamped to the fence-post.

5. The tension device consisting of the plate L, having wire-holes, the angular part Z, and a flanged cover 1*, having wire-holes therein, and the screw and nut by which the tension can be adjusted at will, substantially as described.

6. The spacing device consisting of the pieces N and N, bent and hooked at their ends, as described, and the moving and locking cam-lever P, in combination with the twister-frame, as and for the purposes described.

7. In a 'fencemachine, the slotted pieces N and N, bent, respectively, at n and n and hooked at of, combined with the bolt and nut, and the cam-lever P, operating on the shoulder or, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix m y signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DECKER.

WVitnesses:

A. D. MCNULTY, B. F. WIL IAMs. 

